Featured Research

‘Green wall’ technology could double the plant diversity of the River Thames through London

Date:

September 3, 2010

Source:

The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

Summary:

Only half the number of plant species that could blossom along the walls of the River Thames finds a suitable place to grow, yet this could potentially double with the introduction of ‘green wall’ technology, according to new research.

Share This

Only half the number of plant species that could blossom along the walls of the River Thames finds a suitable place to grow, yet this could potentially double with the introduction of 'green wall' technology, according to a presentation at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)'s international conference.

Related Articles

Research conducted by Simon Hoggart and Rob Francis from the Department of Geography at King's College London found that the river holds a much broader range of seeds in its water and sediment than can be found growing along its central London foreshore and embankments. Although the river walls already support almost 90 plant species, many more do not have anywhere to grow because the walls do not provide a suitable habitat.

"As any gardener knows, plants are adept at growing in unlikely places -- between train tracks, shooting up through cracks in tarmac -- but when it comes to the sheer concrete or sheet metal of city river walls, they really struggle to get a root-hold," Simon begins.

Simon is due to begin work with Thames21 trialling cost-effective new technology that has the bonus of not requiring major building works. "We're going to be testing 'green wall' technology which involves attaching specially-designed frames to the river walls. It has previously only been used on dry land to encourage plant growth, but we think it has the potential to double this aspect of the Thames's biodiversity," Simon explains.

Simon's research findings have helped secure funding through a partnership with Thames21 -- a waterways charity that uses volunteers in the city to clean 'waterside grot-spots' and create new habitat for wildlife.

"Although the river is one of the cleanest urban waterways in Europe, the section that runs through London has very little riverbank habitat, so the biodiversity in these areas is much lower than it should be. The embankments are designed to flush water and detritus through London and protect the city from flood," Simon explains. "We found only 53% of the seeds in the seed bank were growing on the river walls. Improving this section of river could have an extremely positive effect for the health of the river, creating a 'green corridor' that would benefit the whole river food web."

Rivers are amongst the most biodiverse landscapes and yet they are coming under increasing pressure from human development. "Demands for clean water for consumption and industry are only going to increase in coming years which is why it is important we keep a regular health check on our river systems and trial new technologies as soon as possible."

The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). "‘Green wall’ technology could double the plant diversity of the River Thames through London." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 3 September 2010. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100902121218.htm>.

The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). (2010, September 3). ‘Green wall’ technology could double the plant diversity of the River Thames through London. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 3, 2015 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100902121218.htm

The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). "‘Green wall’ technology could double the plant diversity of the River Thames through London." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100902121218.htm (accessed March 3, 2015).

More From ScienceDaily

More Earth & Climate News

Featured Research

Mar. 3, 2015 — While studying a ground-nesting bird population near El Reno, Okla., a research team found that stress during a severe weather outbreak of May 31, 2013, had manifested itself into malformations in ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Researchers studied quartz from the San Andreas Fault at the microscopic scale, the scale at which earthquake-triggering stresses originate. The results could one day lead to a better understanding ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — The 3-D printing scene, a growing favorite of do-it-yourselfers, has spread to the study of plasma physics. With a series of experiments, researchers have found that 3-D printers can be an important ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Researchers have developed a new way of rapidly screening yeasts that could help produce more sustainable biofuels. The new technique could also be a boon in the search for new ways of deriving ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — For almost a century, scientists have been puzzled by a process that is crucial to much of the life in Earth's oceans: Why does calcium carbonate, the tough material of seashells and corals, ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Major cities in the UK are falling behind their international counterparts in terms of their use of smart technologies, according to a new study. The research has found that smart cities in the UK, ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — To simulate chimp behavior, scientists created a computer model based on equations normally used to describe the movement of atoms and molecules in a confined space. An interdisciplinary research ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Rather than just waiting patiently for any pollinator that comes their way to start the next generation of seeds, some plants appear to recognize the best suitors and 'turn on' to increase the chance ... full story

Mar. 3, 2015 — Methane emissions are strongly reduced in lakes with anoxic bottom waters. But – contrary to what has previously been assumed – methane removal is not always due to archaea or anaerobic bacteria. ... full story

Featured Videos

Looted and Leaking, South Sudan's Oil Wells Pose Health Risk

AFP (Mar. 3, 2015) — Thick black puddles and a looted, leaking ruin are all that remain of the Thar Jath oil treatment facility, once a crucial part of South Sudan&apos;s mainstay industry. Duration: 01:13
Video provided by AFP

Related Stories

Jan. 5, 2015 — The benefits provided by green walls has been the focus of recent research. A scientist has concluded that walls comprising plants offer great potential for absorbing noise and could be used as ... full story

Sep. 24, 2014 — The Chinese mitten crab, recorded in Scotland for the first time, poses a serious potential threat to salmon and trout in Glasgow’s River Clyde, according to researchers. The Chinese mitten crab, ... full story

ScienceDaily features breaking news and videos about the latest discoveries in health, technology, the environment, and more -- from major news services and leading universities, scientific journals, and research organizations.